"Whew! That's short notice."
"I want to get away as soon as possible, for fear the old lady should change her mind, and want her money back."
"That's where you're right."
"Of course you must give up your situation at once, as there is short time to get ready."
"No trouble about that," said Clapp. "I've hated the business for a long time, and shall be only too glad to leave. It's the same with Luke. He won't shed many tears at leaving Centreville."
"Well, we'll all meet this evening at the hotel. I depend upon your both being ready to start in the morning."
"All right, I'll let Luke know."
It may be thought singular that Ferdinand should have made so liberal an offer to two comparative strangers; but, to do the young man justice, though he had plenty of faults, he was disposed to be generous when he had money, though he was not particular how he obtained it. Clapp and Luke Harrison he recognized as congenial spirits, and he was willing to sacrifice something to obtain their companionship. How long his fancy was likely to last was perhaps doubtful; but for the present he was eager to associate them with his own plans.